The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-07


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To this presence OF happy people be
added the scene of the chorus. 1t WAS an i'm
pressive sight to view the capacious stage
crowded with singers from whose voices came
much of the charm of the evenings entertain.
ment Then, as bursts Of applause followed the
harmones of symphony and cantata, or the re
ceding notes OF soloists and chorus, enthusiasm
added its insriritine force. 1t was scene OF
which those who saw 1t will have many pleasant
recoilections.
The audience was as liberal in its applause
tnat OF the nrst night. but favor to indi.
viduaI performance surpassed that given to Miss
Dora denninges. OF Cleveland her appearance
was greeted with welcoming piaudits. and her
retirement was attended with applause carrying
New York, any the less favored Charles r.
Adams, of Boston, also received enconiums
which any artist could treasure Thus thu
favor went throughout the evening, showing de-
light and inspiring enthusiasm.
A feature of the evening a number in
memory of Franz Lszt. It began with an ad-
dress written by President Lavallee and read bv
E. NJ. Bowman, of St Louis. It expressed the
following:
''Since last we met there has occurred in the
world of musical art death that has deprived
of one whose elevation in intellectual attain
ments has won for him 8 foremost place among
the artists of his time. In the death of Franz
powers that has ever appeared the musical
horizon and it is only BETTING that we, the
sembled musicians of America. should pause for
a little while in festivities and pay the
departed master that tribute which is due to his
memory. As the Music Teachers National AS
ISOLATION has become body of such importance
to command the recognition of our European
brother artists, and as we are al
ready the recipients of marked and
honored attention from them, 1t now seems
duty that devolves upon us TO mourn with them
in loss great, so lamentable 1t is the policy
of this National Association to make known and
give hearing to the works OF our talented Ameri-
writers, and it seems to q specially CRATE
full tribute that on programme of compositions
which come from tho pens of Amsri-
fan fan ,s.t should include no
lives only in the memory of man and in the
spirit of his writings We all know how i'm
portant has been the spirit of Llszt upon art.
how great has been his influence upon his con-
tenn poraries and how strongly he has marked
the epoch in which he lived. We should profit
from the example OF such man as he; and to
dwell, if but briefly, upon his llfe's work is to
freshen In memories sbe many noble
thoughts. the many artistic triumphs and the
many generous actions that were the spontaue-
Gus expressions of such a mind and soul"
Following the address came the List song,
song, ''Loreley," by Miss Henninces. to which the
audience paid its most enthusiastic tribute and
then came the ''Wanderer Fantasia" played by
Mr.. Louis Mas, of Boston. To this also tho
audience gave spirited applause, which was re-
wick's Dedication Ode" This closed per
formance which will take its place il the mu-
steal history of tho city. w. A. w.
AS these great programmes follow one an
other, the festival character of the proceeding
becomes more and more apparent. The mere
magnitude of the forces employed reaches festi-
val proportions; not the fam boyant spread-eagle-
ism Of Chicago or Cincinnati. but festival never
theless For it is only for festival that gather
choruses of four hundred voices; an orchestra
of symphonic members at least, and body of
solo artists of mean excellence. Not
only SO, it is literal fact that no fes'
tival in this country has ever given
so many new works in the same space of time,
nor, upon the whole, succession of works better
worth giving. In this it is impossible to repress
the conviction that the festival managers have
builded wiser than they knew.
The programme last night was long. like all the
Others and varied in quality. It contained two
new numbers for the orchestra alone, concert
prelude and fugue, by Otto Florsheim. of New
York, and q symphonic Fantasia" by
Mr.. F. X. Arens, OF Cleveland Mr..
Florshem is well-known composer
and Eterateur His prelude is hns
work. 1t opens with a soft and sustained strais
with small bell oblieato. The effect is of
vesper hymn The prelude throughout is enjoy
able. and if the voice of musicians among the
audience is to be taken. the fueue, likewise.
Individually. the writer regards the flu que al
too sentimental in its episodes. AS to its
cleverness Of working out, there is no
room for question. Still, while it is a
fueue in it's outward FORM its spirit is senti-
mental. and at times fantasticaL It is not con-
trapuntal enough to maintain the dramatic illus
ion. In this fancy it lost something of ths
effect possible to this form of composition, with
out gaining anything of corresponding value.
For it is the property of a contrapuntal motioL
and the coherent tonality of fueue, grow upon
the nearer, and to concentrate the interest moro
. ho l1r1 sc had, - I~
just at the end
The second orchestral work was the Symphonic
Fantasia, by Mr.. Arens. q comparatively young
German American musician. of Cleveland. Mr.
Arens is a pupil of Rheinberger and other good
masters His fantasia showed him to be close
student of Wagner, and, if possible almost too
abounds in fine passages which leave the effect
OF having been little too much
''assmilated" from the other man who wrote
them before. At all events, it is something 70
be thankful for that young writer catches tbs
tricks Of color and form and is able to fautasiats
(if there be such an exercise) with orchestra,
sailing upon the open seas instead OF meander.
ing meeky between tho wellworn banks Of
the old time canal of symphony. The work
charming and gives promise. The poorest part
OF 1t is the close.
There were three choral mum bers a ballad,
.'The Rose" by Mr. w. W. Gichrist. of Phila.
delphia; the cantata, Henry of Navarro" Mr..
G.. w. Chadwick. Of Boston. The poorest Of
these was the Henry of Navarro" OF this thu
old remark might truthfully be repeated that,
like many other American works. the trail
of the psalm-tm is over it. It is pre-
tentious to degree, monotonous in
rhythm. and almost wholly wanting in poetry
of conception execution. 1t is for male chorus,
tenor solo and orchestra It was written for the
Cincinnati festival, and is scored upon a scale
that leaves the text in the background. Here
and there catches glimpse of a word like
cork bobbing and down ocean of sound.
AS the audience had no thereto there was
possibility of making anything comprehensive
out of It. To add to the misfortunes of the occa-
sion, the male chorus, although large in volume,
was unsatisfactory in quality, and fell dolefully
from the pitch. The tenor solo, Mr.
Courtney. struggled manfully; but the fash
of his plume too often lost to view in the
heat of battle. and the great engines Of destruc.
ton had it ali their own way.
The other two works were both charming
They were fresh, we'll written, easy, and faw-
ing in style, and needed no sort Of apology IS
justification for their creation or performance